Laoshan takes a whole day and the bus is slower than it looks

The mountain falls straight into the sea an hour east of the city, and inside the park you move between sections by shuttle. Buy the ticket that covers the section you actually want — the Taiqing temple side for the coast and the old Taoist halls, Yangkou for the ridge walks — rather than trying to do all of it.

Start early, take cash for the shuttles as a backup, and check the last bus back before you set off up any path.